Meet Our Pastor, Father Tom
I was born in Chicago Illinois in 1959 to Jim and Virginia. This came 15 months after my identical twin sisters, Mary and Nancy were born. That’s probably why my parents faith was so strong- three screaming babies when they were 30 years old. We attended our parish school, St. Domitilla, and my parents were very active in our faith community. Our faith was something that we shared, enjoyed together and brought us closer to God.
In 1972 we moved to Seguin, Texas, where my father was one of the founding employees of the Motorola plant that was started there. I attended Public High School and later Texas State University in San Marcos, where I graduated in 1981 with a BBA in Business, concentration in accounting. After college, I moved to San Antonio, practicing public accounting as a CPA for seven years.
In 1972 we moved to Seguin, Texas, where my father was one of the founding employees of the Motorola plant that was started there. I attended Public High School and later Texas State University in San Marcos, where I graduated in 1981 with a BBA in Business, concentration in accounting. After college, I moved to San Antonio, practicing public accounting as a CPA for seven years.
A move from Illinois to Texas in my formative years was both a shock and adventure. I quickly grew found of Southern Hospitality, and living in a culturally diverse community where a large number of our new neighbors were Mexican-American. When I was 15, I started attending Our Lady of Guadalupe Church where I met my good friend, John Dowling, MSF, who became a part of our family. I played at some Sunday Masses, where the Eucharist was celebrated in English, and the songs were a mixture of Spanish and English. Looking back I can see how the experience opened my up to the richness of culture and the gift of diversity in the Church. It was during my later High School years and College years that I began to explore more deeply a calling by God to look at priesthood.
At first the novelty, challenges and discipline of professional accounting were most fulfilling. Conducting myself in a professional way, dealing with clients and developing a work ethic were all very beneficial to me. But at about year five, I found myself often wondering what else I might do in my life? Two of the partners in our firm caught my attention. One was most content, putting on his shirt and tie and working at his desk, helping our clients with their financial matters. The other was more inclined to gaze out the window and think of what he might be doing during his time off, on vacations and after he retired. I realized I was more like the second partner.
Back in my sophomore year at Texas State, I vividly remember praying before the Blessed Sacrament one Spring, wondering why from time to time I had these strong feelings that God might be calling me. Looking at my life, I really believed that I was not ready to respond to such an important commitment. I remember making a deal with God, saying that if indeed God was calling me, it was up to Him to figure out a way to get through to me… and to do so before I reached the age of thirty. How cavalier was that? Now, in my later twenties I had become restless and was wondering what I was really looking for?
One Lent I saw the invitation to go on a retreat. As I read the description closely, it was a low-pressure invite to see if priesthood or religious life might be a way of serving God and the Church. During the weekend experience, I was overwhelmed by some very deep feelings, that seemed to have been inside of me for many years which I was ignoring. When I returned home after the weekend, I remember sitting at the kitchen table wondering if the experience would just pass and life would continue on as usual. During the coming weeks I joined a small discernment group of 12 men who met monthly to read the Gospel and share our lives. Ultimately, this led me to visit some different communities and explore more seriously my vocation.
By January 1989, it was becoming clearer to me that I was going to take what seemed like a big risk and explore the Vincentian Community, or as the Gospel of John puts it, “Come and See.” I had met the Vincentians on what seemed like a whim, traveling to New Orleans with some friends who were in discernment as to whether they might join the Daughters of Charity. There the confreres seemed so down to earth, missionary, and interested in serving the poor and abandoned. The retreat was held in the St. Thomas Projects at the time, where our Internal Seminary was conducted (Novitiate). The Vincentian Family, working closely with the laity, together with Sisters and Brothers spoke to me of family and networking. Just before I turned thirty, I decided I was ready to jump into the water.
I was ordained in 1996 in Dallas Texas at Holy Trinity Church by Archbishop Patricio Flores of San Antonio, and spent my first twenty years of ministry in the Congregation of the Mission (CM) working with Latino immigrants from Mexico and Central America. I experienced them to be deeply faithful, incredibly creative and able to sacrifice and most hospitable. Although I was in my native country, I saw the people I served as my teachers, who taught me language, cultural traditions and customs and of course, food! I had the blessing of traveling to their own countries and visiting with the relatives and friends on different occasions.
I was ordained in 1996 in Dallas Texas at Holy Trinity Church by Archbishop Patricio Flores of San Antonio, and spent my first twenty years of ministry in the Congregation of the Mission (CM) working with Latino immigrants from Mexico and Central America. I experienced them to be deeply faithful, incredibly creative and able to sacrifice and most hospitable. Although I was in my native country, I saw the people I served as my teachers, who taught me language, cultural traditions and customs and of course, food! I had the blessing of traveling to their own countries and visiting with the relatives and friends on different occasions.
I believe that the richness of these church and cultural experiences have prepared me to come to New Orleans and serve here at New Orleans, with its beautiful culture and traditions and to meet people here who come from all over the world. New Orleans is home to me. The richness of the faith of people expressed in so many diverse and tactile ways is very inviting and inspiring. The diversity of our community is a blessing and gift and our ministry at the Rebuild Center of St. Joseph is an incredible opportunity and challenge to serve the people who Jesus served in his life… the lost sheep, the forsaken and abandoned and the least of all. Amazingly he identified himself with just those folks, “when you do if for one of these, you do it for me.”
How could anyone not get pulled into the life of New Orleans? The celebrations of faith, family, food, and music? Isn’t that what life itself really is?